This is a descriptive study utilising the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) GOLD dataset of primary care patients within the UK. The aim of this study is to begin to address the question "Are we failing to recognise chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in young (<65) patients within the United Kingdom (UK)". This study will look at healthcare utilisation in a 2 year period before diagnosis, symptom prevalence and association with mental health. The results from this study will be compared with what we know of the general COPD population available in the literature and hopefully present opportunities to improve diagnosis and hypotheses to be explored in future studies.
This is a descriptive study looking at the aetiological characteristics and healthcare resource utilisation for patients diagnosed with COPD before the age of 65. Patient will enter the study at their first coded diagnosis of COPD (confirmed by a FEV1/FVC ratio of <0.7) and data will be taken from the 2 year period prior to diagnosis on respiratory presentations to both primary and secondary care. Prevalence of key respiratory symptoms will be recorded and their association with impaired mental health (in terms of anxiety/depression) will be analysed using chi-square tests. Prevalence of pre-existing asthma and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency will also be recorded. Population statistics will be reported using mean, SD, median, IQR, categorical variables will be reported as frequencies and percentages. The discussion will aim to identify potential opportunities to improve diagnosis of COPD in younger patients and present hypotheses for further research.
For the primary descriptive function of this analysis, the following variables will be captured:
o Previous asthma diagnosis
o Alpha-1 antitrypsin prevalence
o Smoking behaviour
o Time to diagnosis from first onset of symptoms
o Prevalence of individual symptoms
Breathlessness
Cough
Chest infection requiring antibiotics and/or corticosteroids
Presence of sputum
Anxiety/depression
o Typical healthcare utilisation (primary and secondary care)
i.e. number of hospital admissions related to respiratory conditions
Ruth Farmer - Chief Investigator - Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Richard Moore - Corresponding Applicant - Boehringer-Ingelheim International GmbH
Richard Moore - Corresponding Applicant - Boehringer-Ingelheim International GmbH
Richard Moore - Collaborator - Boehringer-Ingelheim International GmbH
HES Admitted Patient Care